Labs with hip and joint problems...need help

I have a 6 year old lab that has hunted hard her whole life and is starting to develop the renowned hip displacia/arthritis that labs are so well known for.

Question is what can I do to help/prevent? I have heard fish oils in special dog food to glucosamine tablets from Wal-Mart. I am interested to hear what some of you guys do in the same boat; I want to make sure to take every precaution to keep her in the family as long as possible. I don’t think not hunting her is an option as that would probably kill her in itself after one year.

As my dogs have gotten older and had some joint problems I've given them a few tablets of a product called Fresh Factors. A friend has a younger lab with hip problems and said they helped his dog some too. For my older dogs after hunting real hard they were often really stiff. A few of these and the next day they'd be all gung ho again. Almost like taking 3-4 years off of their age. Here's a link:

Iams now has a dog food with glucosamine in it. We've always feed her Iams so that was a no-brainer. It comes in a light green bag and I know you can get it at Sam's club and Petco.
If your going to buy glucosamine tablets make sure it's Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

I've also been told if your giving then Glucosamine and Chondroitin also giving them anything gelantonus (jello for example maybe fish oil) helps in the bonding process. Keep in mind this isn't an overnight process it takes months to see any affect if any.

There is also a pill out there called Agility I have not used it but know several big breeed dog owners who swear by it.
Agility has glucosamine HCI, MethylSulfonylMethan (MSM), perna canaliculis (sea mussels), calcium phosphate, powdered cellulose, liver powder, hydrolyzed vegetable acid, yucca schidigera, dehydrated alfalfa, boswellia, fish oil, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate.
I hope this link works: http://www.healthypetnet.com/HealthyPetNet/Products/Agility.aspx?realname=10025100&cat=0&hdr=&Ath=False

Ascriptin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by inhibiting several different chemical processes within the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever. It also reduces the tendency for blood to clot.

It's coated asprin so it won;t upset their stomachs and it's only 325mg dose so one pill is about perfect for any size lab.

In the 80s I had golden's that went through hip problems I went through everything short of surgery and nothing will cure only help with pain., I have a 11 year old female black lab out of Blackhawk kennels, her hips are fine but too many shoulder injurys over the years have her gimping. Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Seem to help but rimadal (spelling? For pain really helps. Above all keep her thin. My old lab hunts only in the mornings for a short time, and seems content to stay home now. Bad hips are a bummer and I don’t totally trust OFA much anymore. It is better than nothing. I think the only guarantee for good hips are at least good OFA and seeing the breeding pair past 6 with solid hips.

It certainly is possible to fight genetics. But that would have to start by buying a dog from lines that have been bred with displaysia free dogs. There in is the problem. Most folks just see a pup and decide to buy. Not aware of the hip problems. Especially in larger breed dogs. I unfortunately had a dog with bad hips. One lesson was enough. After that I have spent the bucks to get Britts from lines that were at least bred to be clear. Not that there is any guarantee. I just cringe when I see the ads - no papers, never certified mates. Just because you own a dog does not mean he is worth breeding. But anyway there are lots of good ideas listed that will help with a problem that won't go away. The next time be more selective when purchasing.

I have a female lab that will be 11 in july. Her hips are getting pretty bad. I have been giving her glucousamine tabs for almost all her life. The last year I have been giving her a pain pill called previcox. I give her half a tab, sometimes a full one depending on. I get it through our local vet, but you can get it on several web sites. It is expensive, 60 tablets cost $120.00 . I did the asprin thing for awhile, and you may get by with that for now, would try that first. These previcox do work for her.

I also learned the hard way, 1st golden I put down at 5 (no papers back yard breeder), second golden at 7 male ofa excelent. female was ofa good. My wife bought a rott in canada that had to be put down at 8 months no papers (she brought it home after visisting a puppy mill ) Ever since breeders havve been chosen carefully. My 11 year old black female from black hawk kennels in jamestown hips have never been a problem but cartilage tears in her front shoulders. I now have british labs and hip problems are almost non existant. I know alot of people with non papered labs that have very heathly dogs. I also know of more litters than i care to think of that were breed out of dogs less than 2 years old that hip problems showed up later in life so all those puppys in problems. I agree that money spent on well bred dogs is money well spent.

my lab develop the same problem at a young age. i just trimmed him down and give him glucosemine tables and he has been fine every since, i think the weight factor was just as important as the tablets. hope that helps.

07 bowtech guardian, North American Hunting Club Life Member, Leupold all the way

Thats sad to hear. I have two labs and one is fine. The other is four now and I made the decision to have surger donw on her bad hip. That was two years ago. She doc told me that this surgery is not ment for big dogs but has worked. Her other hip was showing the beginning sign of a flat spot on her xray. After the surger she was in a lot of pain and took a long time for her just to use it. Today she hunts and runs. She is better than she was when I first took her in. The bad news is I think he other hip is starting to bother her. Which is really bad cause the doc said she can take only one surgery. For sure with out a dought next time I will pay the extra money for the certification. Even though it is not a garuntee it is still better than shooting in the dark.

You can try all the suggested food supplements and medications above.
Bdog, answer about keepin g the dog as thin as possible and in the best shape as possible is important. Can't beat swimming for a lab - no weight bearing and good exercise, etc.
The standard hip surgery, short of extremely expensive hip replacements is usally a femoral osteotomy which removes the "ball" of the ball and socket and the hip forms a sort of muscular joint. It works good for small light dogs especially if only one hip is involved. Not so good for heavy dogs with both hips. Check with your vet.
Pre breeding OFA hip certification (can't be done till 2 years old) and whatever screening they now recommend to PREVENT it is best, but not totally foolproof.
Dunno if anyone mentioned Rimadyl...